Method of and means for knitting preformed wire



Oct. 22,1940. F. c. STEPHENS 2,218,559

I METHOD OF AND MT ANS FCR KNITTING PHEFORMED WIRE Filed May 6,1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 22, 1940. F. c. STEPHENS METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR KNITTING PEEFORMED WIRE Filed May 6, 1956 Oct. 22, 1940.

F. c. STEPHENS METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR KNITTING PREFORMED WIRE Filed May 6, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 22, 1940. 2,218,559

ANS FOR KNITTING PREFORMED WIRE F. c. STEPHENS METHOD OF AND ME Filed May 6, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ocf. 22, 1940. F. c. STEPHENS 2,218,559

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR KNITTING PREFORMED WIRE Filed May 6, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 22-, 1940 METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR KNITTING PR-E'FORMED WIRE Frank C. Stephens, Washington, D. 0., assignor to Elastic Knitted Wire 00., Inc., Providence,

R. 1., a corporation of Rhode Island Application May 6, 1936, Serial N04 78,293

41 Claims. (01. 140-41) My invention relates to a method of and means for knitting preformed wire.

By the use of my invention, wire of any weight, size or strength may be preformed and knitted or interlaced into tubes of desired sizes, which tubes may subsequently be used as such or they may be cut and fabricated so that they may be used in various different fashions.

Atthe start of the process, a proper weight and size of wire, preferably steel or spring wire, such as the type commonly known as music wire, is selected and is fashioned into a series 'of loops in any suitable manner. This wire formed into a series of loops is the basis by which a lmitted tube may be formed by the useof my method.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a wire fabric having certain characteristics,

such as strength, resiliency and deformability which render it extraordinarily adaptable to a wide variety of uses.

Another object of my invention is to provide a preformed wire which may be utilized in the knitting or interlacing of a wire tube.

A further object of my invention is to provide a preformed wire which is made of an indefinite number of similarly shaped and positioned loops, which loops are adapted to be inserted in or interlaced with and knitted into other similar loops of the same preformed wire.

A further object is to provide preformed wire which may be fashioned into tubes of desired diameter by a method of knitting or interlacing,

which tubes may subsequently be used as tubes, or may be folded and/or cut and changed to other conditions.

Another object of myinvention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for forming such fabrics from specially preformed wire.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for guiding loops of preformed wire so that the loops may be readily fed through outstanding loops previously knitted into a tube.

Still another and a very important object is to provide for preforming wire into spring-like or resilient loops and utilizing the inherent springy or resilient action therein to cause said loops when brought together to knit or interloop into each other while positioned, in a knitting-head whereby to form a knitted fabric by turning either other uses.

for broken bones; reinforcing wire mesh for automobile tires and tops; bendable sheathing for electric conduits such as are commonly used to make gooseneck desk-lamps; hollow cables for hanging chandeliers and the like through which electric wires may be passed; coverings for trunks of young trees; protectors for neon light tubes or tubular incandescentlamps; articles of adornment or jewelry; screens or coverings for containers; cushions or bed springs; and innumerable In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a spiral coil of wire, a part being stretched;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the manner in which one loop overlaps the next adjacent loop;

Fig. 4 is an end view;

Fig. 5 is anend view of a spool on which this processed wire is wound; r

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a form of machine well adapted to carrying out my improved process;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the interlacing head shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing a partially completed interlaced or knitted wire cylinder or tube;

Fig. 9a is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in side elevation, showing the manner in which loops are interlaced or knitted together;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9; r Fig. .10a. is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in cross-section showing more particularly the cam action utilized in knitting or interlacing loops together;

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-section through Fig. 9 on the line ll-H;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a knitted tube made of the preformed wire shown in Figs. 1 to 5;

. Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentarydetail view of an interlaced or-knitted tube as shown in Fig. 12 after the tube has been out along a wale in the knitting;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of a piece offabric made in accordance with my invention and illustrating the continuous knitting or interlacing of loops of preformed wire; Fig. 15- is an enlarged detail view similar to the detail shown in Fig. '14 but showing an'additional seriesof loops immediately after they have been interlaced or knitted through the lower set 01' loops shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a vertical cross-section view through the interlaced loops shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a modified form of knitting-head provided with cams for properly positioning the loops of wire for knitting and carrying out my improved process;

Fig. 18 -is a plan view of the modified form of knitting-head shown in Fig. 1'7;

Fig. 19 is a vertical cross-section on the line I9I9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-section on the line 20--20 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-section on the line 2l-2I of Fig. 18 showing three sets of loops in the position the loops will assume within the knitting-head; and

Fig.- 22 is a diagrammatic plan-view of the modified form of the knitting-head and a spool of preformed wire.

After a suitable wire has been selected, the wire is formed into loops similar to the loops shown in Figs. 1 to 4. One way in which these loops may be properly formed is to form loops originally in a cylindrical spiral, and later extend the spiral to stretch these individual loops in such a manner that the inner side 2 thereof has been stretched by using 'a pulling force just equal to, or slightly in excess of the elasticity of the wire being used at its points forming the most acute bends therein. In this manner the portion 2 of the loops will be slightly elliptical in its configuration, and thus the portion 4 of the loops will be forced to assume the shape of a loop of larger diameter. v

These loops which are formed by the relatively sharp elliptical portions 2 and the curved portion 4 of greater diameter assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the portion 6 thereof will preferably be slightly overlapped by the portion 8 of the next adjoining loop. (This overlapping is not necessary but generally facilitates my process.)

The properly formed loop may be readily understood by the disclosure in Figs. 1 to 4, inelusive.

After the steel wire, or other wire having a slight spring, has been preformed into a series of suitable loops, as disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4, it is preferably wound on a spool or roller l in the manner disclosed in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 22. Wire formed in this manner will be found to have an inherent resiliency of its own, and preferably the diameter of the spool is selected to correspond properly with the natural curvature of the preformed wire. The curvature of the preformed wire is partly dependent on the curvature of the original coil of wire before preforming, if coiled wire is used.

In spooling the preformed wire one end thereof is preferably secured to itself after one convolution thereof has encircled the spool. After the start has thus been made, the wire is subsequently reeled on the spool so that the planes of the wire loops will be approximately perpendicular to the surface of the spool and to the central axis thereof (as more particularly shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7). It is preferable to spool the preformed wire in this manner primarily because the loops are wont to catch in other loops in the next convolution thereof on the spool when the wire is being removed therefrom. In unreeling the preformedv wire from a spool the wire is preferably turned slightly (in the plane of the loops) so that the loops will tend to pull away from the next convolution of loops as the wire is removed. (This is illustrated in Figs. 6, '7 and 22.)

For the purpose of clarity, I shall refer to an entire loop, each of which has the sides 2, 4, 0 and 8, as individual loops identified by the use of letters, a loop, in general, being designated as L.

In the form of knitting-head which I have disclosed more particularly in Figs. 6-11, I provide a suitable base 9 on which I position a cylinder I I, which cylinder holds the interlaced or knitted tube T on a rotatable support I6 in proper position so that the incoming loops L will be fed into the loops which have already been interlaced into other loops forming the tube T. The preformed wire of loops L is wound on a spool I0, as described above, which spool is preferably positioned a slight distance away from the cylinder II so that the supply of preformed wire may be fed from the spool I0 past the post I3 and.

around the post I which is provided with a cam-groove I1, and is positioned relatively close to the cylinder II near the point where the loops L are fed through the cylinder II approximately under the cam l2.

When the preformed wire is fed in this fashion from the spool I0, it is turned or twisted about the longitudinal axis'of the line of loops from the position in which it is reeled on the spool I0 through approximately 90 at the time it passes the post I3 and through approximately another 90 at the time that the preformed wire with the loops L passes the post I5 and is guided by the cam-groove I1 through the cylinder II under the cam I2.

The preformed wire is relatively sharply turned substantially in the plane of the loops as it passes around the post I5 in the cam-groove I1 and consequently the loops L are spread apart in a direction radially of the post, by the sharp curvature so that the loops will be presented beneath the cam I2 in better condition to be interlaced with the loops already forming a portion of the tube T. The cam-groove I1 forms a backing for the incoming loops so that these loops are held in proper position to be forced through the receiving loops of the tube T.

While I have shown a cylinder II and the spool I0 as being mounted in a substantially vertical position, it will be understood that it is not necessary to have this cylinder and spool in a vertical position, and probably would be preferable to have the cylinder, knitting-head, and spool arranged in a horizontal position if the spool were very large and if a very large and/or long tube T were to be made.

Fig. 8 shows performed wire as it is being first knitted together. In this figure, the loop Ihas just received the loop m, which latter loop has been inserted completely through the loop I, and thus the preformed wire is formed into the beginning of a cylinder or tube T (as shown more particularly in Fig. 12 The loop n next adjacent to the loop Z, is shown in Fig. 8 as in a position to receive the loop 0, which latter loop is adjacent to the loop m. The loop p next adjacent to the loop n will, as the process of knitting is continued, come into proper position to receive the loop q, which latter loop is adjacent to the loop 0.

By turning the rotatable support I6 in a clockwise direction the tube being 4 formed will be turned and the loops forming the last convolution of loops in the tube T will present themselves, in

, turn, to receive their respective incoming loops from the spool I0.

While I have shown the starting of the tube '1 as it would be done by mouse of the interlacing or knitting head, it has been found that, generally speaking, it is desirable to start the tube manually and interlace the loops until a plurality of conyolutions of loops have been interlaced properly.

After these first few convolutions have been interlaced, they may be properly positioned (into the position shown in Fig. 9) in the knitting-head, after which time the process may continue as will be more fully described hereinafter.

In view of the fact that after two complete convolutions of preformed wire have been knitted together, the loops which form the tube T assume a slightly different position from the position disclosed in Fig. 8, a more specific description of the positions which these loops assume is considered necessary.

Asshown in Fig. 9, a portion of a, tube T has been formed by my knitting process. This tube T consists of four convolutions of preformed wire, and, as shown in this figure, is receivingmore loops of preformed wire which become the fifth convolution.

In this process, the loop a has just received the new loop b, a small part only thereof showing beneath the cam l2. The loop'c has just become engaged by the lower surface of the cam 12 and is being turned into a position approximately perpendicular to the tube T. As the loop c is cammed to this position, a new loop d is presented at the proper time to insert itselfinto the loop 0 and passbehind the cam l2 (relative to the surface of the cam l2 seen in Fig. 9), and is thus held by the cam in a position approximately perpendicular to the loop 0 and parallel with the tube T.

After this portion of the process is completed,

the loops 0 and d will have advanced to the position in which the loops a and b are shown in Fig. 9. When the loops 0 and d have thus advanced, the loop J will have assumed the position in which the loop 0 is shown, and the loop 9 will have as-.

sumed the position in which the loop (I is shown. Thus the loop 9 will be in a position to snap through the loop I as the loop 1 moves under the cam l2, and the loop 51 will pass behind the cam l2, or between the cam l2 and the tube T.

The loop e is a loop of the next convolution of the tube T and is the loop through which the loop c has been passed when the loop 0 was originally presented to be interlaced into the tube T. Likewise the loop h is the loop through which the loop I had been passed. After new loops, such as b, d, and 9, have been introduced through their receiving loops a, c and f, respectively, the new loops b, d, and g and succeeding loops remain in a position approximately parallel to the sides of the formed tube T until they reach approximately which time they are ready to receive the new incoming loops in the same manner as the loops b.

d and g were received by theloops a, c, and I, respectively.

In Fig. 911 I have shown more in detail the positions in which the loops n and 0 will be found at the moment when the loop 0 is being interlaced through the loop 11. The incoming lo'ops L are guided around the post IS in the cam-groove l1. At the time that the loop 0 is being fed through the loop n,'the loop 0. is held in position by the cam-groove I! while the loop 11. is cammed over it by the cam l2. At the moment this action is taking place the loops n and o are in the form of an X. The same relative position of these loops is shown perhaps even more clearly in the crosssectional view, Fig. 10a.

In Fig. 10, I have shown an enlarged fragmentary cross-section, which shows more particularly the position in which the loops e, c and d are as shown in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 11, I have shown a cross-section through :loops u and v to show more clearly the position which these loops (formerly identified as loops a, b; c, d; or f, g) have assumed, the loop 12 being approximately parallel to the tube T which had been previously formed. This figure shows that these loops remain in approximately the same position throughout approximately their entire circuit within the cylinder ii.

In the form of knitting-head which I have disclosed in Figs. 6 to 11, I provide a revolvable base M which is adapted to hold the tube T so that the loops a, c and 1 will be properly presented to receive the loops b, d and g as the former are advanced toward the cam l2. A

rotatable support I6 is pivotally secured to the base l4 and is preferably provided with a knurled surface 18 (or with any other frictional surface) on the side thereof which is engaged by the tube T. While in this form of knitting-head, I have not disclosed means whereby this rotatable support l6 may be mechanically rotated, it is possible to readily supply such means so that the tube T which is surrounding the rotatable support l6, and is frictionally engaged on the knurled surface l3, may be readily rotated, and thus the loops, such as loops 0., o and I- may be properly presented to receive loops b, d and 9.

As the tube T is revolved, the last convolution of loops will be properly positioned to receive the new loops, which latter loops are guided and held, by the cam-groove. ll until they are properly interlaced into the loops that had composed the last convolution of loops of the tube T. After these new loops have been properly interlaced in the former last convolution of loops, the new loops become the last convolution of loops. In this way, a new convolution of loops is added to the tube with each complete revolution of the tube, and thus the tube grows" with each revolution thereof.

In Fig. 12, I have shown a tube T which has been completed with the exception of the last two loops L. These loops L would be interlaced into the loops LI and L2 in order to complete the tube T. While the representation of the tube in Fig. 12 shows the last convolution of loops L turned over and upon the next adjacent convolu tion of loops, i. e. approximately parallel with the tube, it will be understood that when the tube is finished, these loops will be turned so that they will not befolded over upon the next adjacent convolution.

In Fig. 13, I have shown a fragmentary detail of a completed tube after the tube has been out along a Wale in the tube. By forming a tube and cutting it along a wale, the knitted wire may be fabricated into articles differing considerably from tubular articles. For example, the wire thus knitted could be suitably flattened and/or stretched to make innumerable articles that heretofore have not been made of wire. Also, a tube, after it hasbeen thus cut, may 'be rolled up upon itself to form other articles.

In Fig. 14, I have shown an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the exact position that interlaced loops assume. The showing in Fig. 14 is primarily representative of a tube which has been out along a wale, as described above,

and subsequently flattened out. It is to be understood, of course, that portions of only two convolutions have been shown in this figure.

Figure is an enlarged detail in which three convolutions' of loops are shown, the third convolution consisting of the loops M which have been interlaced through the loops N, and have been folded over upon the loops 0, which latter loops comprise a portion of the next convolution through which the loops N had previously been interlaced.

The cross-section through this figure as shown in Fig. 16 more clearly shows the position assumed by the three convolutions of loops, namely 0, N and M. The arrow in Fig. 16 indicates the direction in which the loop M would subsequently be turned in forming a tube.

In Figs. 17 to 21, I have disclosed a modified form of my knitting-head. This form is substantially the same as my preferred form, it being provided with a substantially cylindrical portion 30 in the center of which a well 32 is provided. I provide a slot through the cylinder 30 to open the well 32 to the outside of the cylinder 30, so

that the loops L may be fed into the well where a tube T is to be formed.

The start of the formation of the tube is identical with the start in my preferred form, and in fact the forming of the tube is identical, with the exception of the fact that the cam surfaces are different in configuration. In my modified form, I provide a cam 36 which is positioned I near the cam in the end of the slot 34 through which the loops L are fed, and which is shaped so that as these loops'L enter the well 32, the incoming loops 1' are inserted through the loops s, and are cammed upwardly by the cam 36, while the loops s are cammed downwardly by the cam 36. as shown more particularly in Fig. 21.

The cam 35, at the end of the slot 34, provides a support for the incoming loops and holds these loops from backing away from the loops through which they are to be interlaced. Thus the cam 35 holds the new loops (such as the loop 1') so that the loops of the last convolution of loops in the tube (such as the loop s) may be cammed down and over the new loop by the cam 36. Subsequently the loops 1 remain substantially in the position in which .they are shown in Fig. 21 until they have been advanced around approximately 360, at which time the loops 1' assume approximately the position of the loops s to receive new IOODS.

To maintain these loops 1' in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 21, I provide a guide 38, which guide is in contact with the loops 1' until the time at which the loops 1' change their position to the position in which the loops s are shown, at which time the loops are ready to receive incoming loops.

In Fig. 22, I have shown diagrammatically the position in which my modified form of knittingloops L in close proximity to the knitting-head 30 will tend .to turn in such manner that their inherent resiliency will increase the ease with which these loops may be inserted through the clockwise direction.

other loops in knitting the tube within the well 32 of the knitting-head 30.

It will be understood that while I have shown only two forms of a knitting-head, which would greatly facilitate the knitting of looped wire into a tube, many other forms may be made which would carry out my method. Also it will be understood that while I have shown mechanical means for knitting looped wire, my method of knitting looped wire may be readily done manually, in which case the fingers of an operator's hand would be substituted for the cams for turning the loops from one position to the other as new loops are forced therethrough.

While my method of knitting wire is to produce a tube, it is possible to knit wire into straight strips. In carrying out this process a plurality of preformed wire pieces of the desired length are selected and the loops of one piece of preformed wire are knitted through the loops of another preformed wire.

After two or three lengths of preformed wire have thus been knitted together, in order to knit more lengths of preformed wire onto the already knitted lengths it will be necessary to bend one end of the knitted wires over upon the main portion thereof. By doing this the loops of the last knitted preformed wire will stand out laterally much in the manner that the loops in my tubular knitting process do.

I have found that when my preformed wire is knit in this fashion the material produced is not applicable to as many uses as the tubular form because the product is inclined to roll over upon itself because of its own inherent resiliency.

While in the drawings and specification I have shown and'described my knitting process in such a manner that the tube being formed must be rotated in the knitting-head in a clockwise direction, it will be understood that the same process can be used by turning the tube in a counter- If the counter-clockwise turning of the tube is desired, it will be necessary to preform the wire in the direction opposite to that shown, and also to wind the spool It! in a counter-clockwise direction.

In case a loop falls to properly enter and become interlaced into its proper loop, a stitch will be dropped, so to speak, but this will not seriously injure the finished product since a dropped stitch will not result in a run, as is the case when such happens when textile threads are being knitted.

When such a dropped stitch is discovered, the knitted tube may be unraveled by simply reversing the turning of the tube being formed and pulling the preformed wire away from the .tube. This may be done either by leaving the tube, in-its position within the knitting-head or by removing the tube from the knitting-head and unraveling to the "dropped stitch manually.

I claim:

1. An improved method of forming a fabricated wire cylinder which consists in successively interlacing juxtaposed resilient crossed loops into a continuous interlaced spiral.

2. A method of forming a fabricated cylinder out of a continuous series of juxtaposed resilient loops, adjacent spirals of which are successively interlaced, whereby the cylinder is constructed by adding continuous rows of spiral loops to one end thereof.

3. An improved method of transforming a preformed material in the form of contiguous resilient crossed loops, into a fabricated article by bringing two rows of successive loops into registry and interlaced relationship, whereby the article formation is from one end while the last convolution of loops of the article formed and 5 the oncoming loops are turned with respect to each other.

4. An improved method of fabricating an article consisting in winding spirally formed resilient loops around a holder in perpendicular relationship thereto, drawing the loops therefrom and imparting a twist thereto, whereby to impart added lateral resiliency to the loops, bringing adjacent rows of loops into juxtaposition and cansing same to interlace, thereby resulting in an accretion of the article from the end' where the rows of loops are brought into juxtaposition.

5. An improved method of fabricating an article consisting in winding spirally formed resilient loops around a holder in perpendicular relation- 2 ship thereto, drawing the loops'therefrom and imparting a twist thereto, whereby to impart added lateral resiliency to the loops, bringing adjacent rows of loops into juxtaposition and causing same to interlace, thereby resulting in an accretion of the article from the end where the rows of loops are brought into juxtaposition while imparting an axial turn to the article being formed;

I 6. A method of forming a fabricated cylinder which consists in imparting a rotary motion to the article formed while bringing adjacent rows of resilient loops from a continuous strip of loops into registry and automatically causing the juxtaposed loops to become interlaced whereby to 5 cause an accretion of the article formed from one end thereof. 1

7. An improved method of constructing a fabricated cylinder which consists in preforming wire into spring-like loops, passing the successive iloops through a knitting-head while turning .one

with respect to the other, and utilizing the inherent springy or resilient action in the loops to cause successive rows-of loops to knit or interloop into each other when brought into juxtaposition in the process of knitting the wire.

8. A method of wire knitting which consists in juxtaposing compressible self-expanding loops and forcing one into the other, whereby the two are temporarily deformed, after which by reduction of pressure they assume their normal dimensions, thereby creating an interlock.

9. A method of wire knitting consisting in juxtaposing preformed loops of approximately uniform major and minor diameters and causing the insertion of one of the loops into the other, causing the diameter of the receiving loop to increase and of the entering loop to decrease temporarily, and both of them to thereafter expand to a point where the diameter of the entering loop is again 60 approximately equal to the diameter of the portion of the receiving loop entered, thereby to create an interlock of the loops.

10. A method of forming a fabric of knitted wire consisting in bringing compressible self-ex- 65 panding loops into juxtapositionand threading one into the other, thereby causing a temporary contraction and expansion during the period of insertion, after which they are free to expand, whereby the'inserted loop becomes approximately 70 the same size as the part of the loop it has entered, thus creating an interlock.

11. An improved method of preforming wire into spring-like loops, passing the successive loops through a knitting-head to form aknitted '15 fabric while turning one with relpect to the other, and utilizing the inherent springy or resilient action in the loops to cause successive rows of loops to knit or interloop into each other when brought together in the process of knitting the wire. 1

12. A method of producing a cylindrical body of wire netting, characterized by the feature that a flattened spiral spring serving as starting material is coiled in a helical line to form a cylindrical body and is temporarily twistedat an interlacing m place so that each individual loop of the last convolutlon of the cylindrical body is forced over a loop of the flattened spring in such a manner that it embraces this spring.

13. A method of forming a fabricated wire as product which consists in successively interlock-. ing juxtaposed resilient crossed loops of wire to form a spiral tube.

14. A method of forming a fabricated wire cylinder out of a continuous series of resilient-{ g loops of wire, adjacent spirals of which are juxtaposed and successively interlaced, whereby the cylinder is constructed by adding continuous rows of spiral loops to one end thereof.

15. A method of transforming a preformed gs wire in the form of contiguous resilient crossed loops into a fabricated article by bringing two rows of successive loops into registry and interlaced relationship, whereby the article formation is from one end while the article formed and the gm incoming loops are turned with respect to each other.

16. A method of forming a fabricated wire article consisting in winding spirally formed resilient wire loops around a holder in perpenat dicular relationship thereto, drawing the loops therefrom and imparting a twist thereto, whereby to impart added lateral resiliency to the loops, bringing adjacent rows of loops into juxtaposition and causing same to interlace, thereby resulting in an accretion of the article from the end where the rows of loops are brought int juxtaposition.

17. A- method of forming a fabricated wire cylinder which consists in imparting a rotary motion to the article formed while bringing adjacent rows of resilient loops from a continuous strip of loops and automatically causing the juxtaposed loops to become interlaced whereby to cause an accretion of the article formed from 59 one end thereof. v

18. An improved method of making a fabricated product which consists in forming flexible material into successive loops, bringing rows of said loops into juxtaposition, causing the juxtaposed loops to interlock together during temporary distortion of their normal diameters, said distorted diameters thereafter automatically resuming normalcy immediately on passing the area of greatest functional resistance.

19. An improved method of making a fabricated product which consists in forming flexible material into successive loops, bringing rows of said loops into juxtaposition causing the juxtaposed loops to interlock during temporary distortion of their normal diameters, said distorted diameters automatically resuming normalcy immediately onpassing the area of greatest resistance of contact between the juxtaposed loops. 7o

.20. An improved method of making a fabricated product of resilient material, which consists in presenting successive rows of prelooped material, interlocking simultaneously presented loop; in the two rows while temporarily held 15 under a stored transverse tension, which latter at a predetermined time is released, whereupon the loop previously under tension responds by partially turning over to receive an oncoming loop of the next row, thereby completing the interlock between said loops.

21. A method of coiling a strand of resilient material into laterally deformed loops, winding the coiled strand into helical turns, and thereafter bringing two helical turns of the coiled strand with their loops juxtaposed, and finally interlacing the juxtaposed loops to form a fabricated product.

22. A method of forming a tube, comprising the steps of initially forming a strand of resilient wire into a series of laterally displaced loops, winding the strand into a helix, and interlacing the contiguous loops of the adacent helical turns.

23. A method of forming a tube, comprising the steps of initially forming a strand into a series of laterally displaced loops, winding the strand into a helix, and interlacing newly-presented loops with the contiguous loops of the formed tube by inserting these loops from the inside of the loops of the tube in an outward direction.

24. An improved method of knitting a succession of loops of resilient material which consists in feeding wedge of the article formed and the oncoming loops through'a guiding channel and in contact with means for turning the loops at the edge of the forming article and the oncoming loops in opposite directions as the loops of the two rows are interlaced.

25. A device of the character described for knitting looped material including a circular channel and cams, cam means causing an interlacing of rows of loops by forcing a loop at a time from the oncoming row through a loop in the finished row, and cooperating cam means for tin'ning said rows in planes at a more or less acute angle to each other.

26. A machine of the character described for knitting looped material which includes a suitable support around which the article being knitted is turned, cam means in position to turn the loops in the last formed and forming rows of spirals of loops away from each other at a predetermined point, and cooperating cam means causing the inteilooping or interlacing of juxtaposed loops in the last two rows of loops.

27. A machine of the character described for knitting resilient material which has been fashioned into a series of successive crossed loops, which includes a suitable support relative to which the article to be formed is turned, a cylinder within which the article is formed, means for guiding the loops to be interlaced, means for forcing oncoming-loops through the juxtaposed loops in a formed row of loops, and means for turning the loops of adjacent rows of loops in opposite directions at a predetermined point and thereafter causing the interlacing of juxtaposed loops.

28. Means for knitting material composed of a series of resilient crossed loops including a cylinder within which the article to be formed is turned, means for turning the last row of loops in the article formed in a position to receive the oncoming loops fed into the machine, and means for turning the last-named loops in a position to enter the juxtaposed loops previously knitted into the article formed.

29. In a machine of the character described for knitting resilient wire, a supporting cylinder,

a revolvable support within said cylinder, and a cam positioned on one edge of said cylinder in position to engage the resilient wire being knitted.

30. In a machine for knitting wire, a suitable base, a cylinder supported on said base, a revolvable support within said cylinder, a slot near one edge of said cylinder and a cam secured to an edge of said cylinder in close proximity to said slot, said cam positioned to guide the wire to be knitted.

31. A machine for knitting wire including a cylinder, a support within said cylinder, means for supplying looped wire to said cylinder, a slot through which said looped wire may pass into said cylinder, means for rotating the wire within the cylinder, and a cam for guiding the looped wire as it enters said cylinder.

32. A machine for knitting wire including a cylinder, a revolvable support within said cylinder, said support positioned to hold a partially knitted tube in position to receive wire from a source of supply of looped wire, a cam supported by said cylinder in position to guide incoming looped wire and to direct the loops thereof into the loops of the partially formed tube.

33. In a machine for knitting looped wire, the combination of a spool of looped wire in which the loops extend approximately perpendicular to the axis of the spool, whereby to prevent intertangling of the loops, a cylinder, a

rotary device within the cylinder upon which the article to be knitted is supported, and guide means between the cylinder and the spool for turning the looped wire into a predetermined position on its approach to the cylinder thereby guiding the loops into the cylinder.

34. In a machine for knitting looped wire, the combination of a spool of looped wire, a cylinder, a rotary support within the cylinder upon which the article to be knitted is positioned, and cam means between the spool and the cylinder for guiding said looped wire and forcing it into the cylinder and loops of the already formed portion of the article.

35. In a machine for knitting preformed wire having crossed loops of approximately equal size, a cylinder, a rotary device within said cylinder on which an article to be formed is supported, a cam adapted to guide and support oncoming loops of the preformed wire, and a cam on said cylinder, said latter cam positioned to turn loops of the article being formed over the oncoming loops. 7

36. The combination of a tube supporting element adapted to hold a partially formed knitted tube having end loops, an element for feeding preformed loops to the end loops of the partially formed tube, means for rotating one of said elements with respect to the other, and means for interlacing said preformed loops with the end loops of the partially formed tube.

37. The combination of a rotatable tube holder adapted to hold a partially formed knitted tube having end loops, stationary mechanism for turning said end loops laterally with respect to said tube, a stationary feeder for interlacing additional loops with said end loops, and means for turning the interlaced end loops to form a continuation of the tube.

38. The combination of a tube holder adapted to hold a partially formed knitted tube having end loops, mechanism for turning said end loops laterally with respect to said tube, means for causing an interlacing of additional loops with said end loops by passing through said end loops in the direction of the formed tube, and, means for turning the; interlaced end loops to form a continuationof the tube. v

39. In a tube-knitter, a tube holder adapted to hold a partially formed tube having end loops, mechanism for turning said end loops laterally with respect to said tube, a feeder for forcing additional loops through said end loops to interlace therewith, and means for turning the interlaced end loops to form a continuation of the tube.

40. Mechanism for knitting loops of resilient material into a fabric which consists in a guiding channel, means for moving a succession of loops through said channel, a cam located at the mouth of the channel on opposite sides of which two rows of loops pass as they are fed through the channel, the loops on the edge of the knitted article being turned outwardly and downwardly, and the oncoming interlaced loops being turned inwardly and upwardly by said cam means.

41. In combination, means for coiling a strand of resilient material into laterally displaced loops, interlacingmechanism, means for feeding said loops to said interacting mechanism, and means associated with said mechanism for causing an interlacing of said loops to form successive interlocked rows of loops.

FRANK C. STEPHENS. 

